Sectional sliding door



Nov. 8, 1960 v. E. CLAPSAQDDLEVJR 2,959,221

SECTIONAL SLIDING DOOR 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed June 11, 1957 112050? E CZapsaddZeJg in Nov. 8, 1960 v. E. CLARSADDLE, JR 2,959,221

SECTIONAL SLIDING DOOR I5 Sheets-Sheet '2 Filed June 11, 1957 I? 2 E Ciups ,Jii,

l I as SECTIONAL SLIDING DOOR Victor E. 'Clapsaddle, Jr., Crownsville, Md., assignor, by mesne assignments, to Windsor Door Company, Inc., Garden City Park, N.Y., ,a corporation of New York Filed June 11,1957, Ser. No. 665,025 6 Claims. Cl. 160-201) This invention relatesin general to sliding doors, and more particularly to doors of the overhead type commonly used in garages, the present application being a continuation-in-part of my copending applications Serial No. 456,531, filed September 16, 1954 and Serial No. 588,384, filed May 31, 1956, both now abandoned.

A typical overhead sliding door consists of a number of panels hinged together and provided at the sides with rollers which run in tracks on the door jamb. The tracks ordinarily have curved portions. at the top leading to horizontal portions which extend back into the building, so that the door can be rolled from a vertical position to a horizontal, overhead position. Such doors are ordinarily assembled at the factory and shipped as complete units. Doors for openings of other than standard size must be custom made and are quite costly. Furthermore, the door panels are usually connected by separate hinges which are expensive to manufacture and attach, and which require the use of heavy panels in order to make a doorwhich is sufliciently rigid.' In order to insure a tight fit when the door isclosed, the track is tapered from top to bottom, so that the rollers will fit tightly in the track when the door is in closed position. The door is thus likely to stick in closed position and may require considerable force to open.

The general object of this invention is to provide an overhead sliding door which may be manufactured less expensively than doors previously on the market, without sacrificing any rigidity or durability, which can be readily adapted to openings of different sizes, which can be shipped in compact form and assembled on the job by an unskilled laborer, and which, when assembled, fits tightly against the jamb but can be raised with a minimum of eflfort.

The door consists in general of a number of horizontal panels identical in construction formed from sheet metal and having integral flanges consisting of flat sloping portions and open tubular portions along their upper and lower edges, the upper flange of each panel interlocking with the lower flange of the panel above. The interlocking tubular portions of the flanges form seats for roller assemblies which are mounted at the ends of the panels and engage the tracks on either side of thedoor opening. The sloping portion of the lower flange-of each panel rests on the sloping portion of the upper flange of the panel below. Preferably the panels have stiffeners attached to their side edges with overlapping lugs through which tubular sleeves, which support the roller shafts, are inserted. The bottom panel has a rubber strip attached along its lower edge for sealing the bottom of the opening.

In the drawings illustrating the invention:

Fig. 1 is a front elevation, partly broken away, of a garage on which 'is installed a door constructed according to the invention; 7'

Fig 2 is an enlarged fragmentary cross-section taken along line 2-2 of Fig. 1;

" j aired States .Pater1t l and header 12.

numeral 13, is mounted on the rear of the jamb on either Patented Nov. 8, 1960 Fig. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary cross-section taken along line 3-3 of Fig. l; i

Fig. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary cross-section exemplifying the interlocking connection of a pair of panels taken, for example, along line 4--4 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary cross-section taken along line 55 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 6 is an enlarged fragmentary vertical cross-section in the region of the top of the door showing the top panel in process of installation;

Fig. 7 is an enlarged fragmentary cross-section taken in the same region as Fig. 4, showing a modification of the end stiffeners of the panels;

Fig. 8 is a view similar to Fig. 2 showing the modification shown in Fig. 7;

Fig. 9 is a view similar to Fig. 3 showing the modification of Fig. 7;

Fig. 10 is an enlarged fragmentary perspective view of a modification of the connection between the panels;

Fig. 11 is an end view of a panel with a modified stiffener construction;

Fig. 12 is an enlarged fragmentary cross-section taken along line 12-12 of Fig. 11;

Fig. 13 is a section similar to Fig. 12 showing the stiifener and panel prior to assembly; and

Fig. 14 is a fragmentary cross-section taken along line I' l-14 of Fig. 12. I

The door is intended to be mounted in a garage or similar building, generally indicated by the numeral 10, having a door opening bounded by the usual jamb 11 A track, generally indicated by the side of the door. As shown in Fig. 5, each track 13 has a vertical part 13a, a curved part 13b, and an overhead horizontal part 130. The track may be secured to the jamb in any suitable manner, for example by means of angle bars 14 welded to the track and screwed to the jamb. The curved portions 13b of the track are disposed inside the building above the door opening and merge with the horizontal overhead portions which extend back into the building and on which the door rests when t it is open.

The door is made of a number of generally rectangular panels 20, all of which are substantially the same in construction. A typical panel is formed from sheet metal and consists of a flat rectangular body portion 21, a flange 22 along the lower edge having a downwardly and rearwardly sloping flat portion 22a (Fig. 4), an upwardly and rearwardly sloping flat portion 22b, and a tubular portion 220, and an upper flange 23 consisting of an upwardly and rearwardly sloping flat portion 23a and a tubular portion 23b. Each panel may be provided with stiifener plates 24 at each end. These plates may be integrally formed with the panel or may be made separately and attached to the panel. The tubular portion 23b of the upper flange is of an internal diameter suitable for providing a sliding fit with the outer diameter of tubular portion 220, and these portions of adjoining panels interlock, as shown by Fig. 4, and serve as a continuous hinge between the two panels across their entire width. The tubular portion 23b is formed approximately as three-quarters of a circle, leaving an opening 25 between the edge of portion 23b and the flat portion 23a. Tubular portion 220 may be similarly formed. The panels can be initially connected together by holding the lower panel slightly above and sloping to the rear of its final position and snapping portion 23b around portion 220 of the upper panel with a rolling motion.

It will be noted that the panel portions 22c and 23b are not true tubes, but are more accurately tubular segments, because of the provision of the opening 25 and the corresponding opening between the portion 220 and the flat-portion 22b; -However, for brevity and convenience, the portions 22c and 23b have been-referred to herein as tubular portions.

The roller assemblies which are mounted in either end of tubular portion 220 of each panel flange, fconsist of-a sleeve 26 (Fig. 2) in which is mounted a shaft"27*carr y ing on its outer end a roller 28:" These rollersengage in the 'track 12 on either side of the doorway. Orr-either side of the doorway a cable 29 is connected to the bottom roller of the'door'and passes around'a fixed pulley 30 and a movable pulley 31 attached to'a spring 32; and then is anchored to the wall of the garage, for example by a bolt 33;" This spring and cable arrangement-assists in raising the door and sliding it"into theoverhead' position.

As shown in'Fig: 3, the bottom pa'rielhas a brace plate 21a attached to its body 'portion 21 and to "sloping downward at a slant and engages the floor 'of the garage when the door is closed. This strip is' fairlythin and flexible and,'being disposed on a slant, bends readily'to conform to irregularities in the floor, thus forming an' eifective Weather seal at the bottom of the door.

In the modification shown in Figs. 7 and 8, the panels are shown as having end stiffeners 38, each of which carries an upwardly and rearwardly extending lug 39 at its upper end, and a downwardly'and rearwardly extending ing 40 at its lower end. The upper lug 39 of each panel stiifener, and the lower lug 40 of the stiffener on the panel above, overlap and have registering openings 39a, 40a which align with the ends of tubular portions 220 and 23b. The roller assemblies may consist merely of a roller 41 mounted on ball bearings on the outer end of a shaft 42 which passes through openings 39a, 40a into tubular portion 22s.. Alternatively, the sleeve 26 of the roller assembly shown in Fig. 2 may be fitted through these openings into portion 220 in a similar manner. The mounting of the rubber strip 35, as illustrated in Fig. 9, is the same as in Fig. 3, but a different kind of bottom'stiffener plate 43 may be employed. This plate has a curved portion 44 which fits around tubular portion 220.

In the form shown in Figs. 7-9, the shear stress of the roller shafts is borne by the side stiffener lugs 39 and 40.

In case of an; obstruction in the track, any extra force on the roller will not be transmitted to the tubular portions 22c and 23b. The latter are thus protected against being bent out of shape, and will maintain a free hinging ac-" tion, The overlapping stiffener lugs 39 and 40 also add rigidity to the structure.

The top panel, as illustrated in Fig.6, hasia straight' downwardly and rearwardly sloping extension 45 along its upper edge. A bracket 46 is attached to the body 21 of the panel and has a sloping portion 46a which is connected to extension 45 by bolts 47. Between portion 46a and extension 45 is mounted a roller bracket 48 having a curvedend 48a which receives the roller shaft 42. Bracket 48.has elongated slots 49 which permit adjustment of the position of the'top'roller. The side stiffener- The rollers are then inserted in the ends ofthe' tubular portions 22c of the'interlockedpanels, and' finally the tracks, are; set in position and securedto the *jamb, I and the cable and spring assemblies mounted and adjusted. When-the installation is complete, the nails are removed from extensions 50.

For very wide doors, the panel connection shown in Fig. 10 may be used. A stifiening strut 52 is connected along the upper part of each panel 20, for example by spot-welding to the body portion 21 and flange portion 23a. An auxiliary hinge strip 53 is attached to strut 52, for example by self-tapping screws 54. This strap has a curved portion 53b, which passes around tubular portion 23b of the upper panel and a curved reentrant end portion 53c, which fits inside tubular portion 220 of the lower panel. The strap may be applied when the door is assembled by snapping the curved portions into position around the interlocking .-tubula'r portions of the panels and then securing the strap to strut 52 by means of screws 54. Depending on the width of the door, a single strap, disposed near the, centerof each panel may be usedfor' several straps may be applied "at spaced 'in-' tervals' cross the door. 7

The form of side"stifiener connection shown in Figs.

11 through'l4-is"particularlysuitablefor doorsmade of aluminnm as ,it' eIiminates. the 1 expensive operations of welding' 'or riveting. The panel -20 .is the same in contour, bntihas a seriesio-frec'tangular tabs punched out near itsside edges;- These tabs are offset slightlyout of the plane of the panel. toward the inside and face away from the adjacent 'side edge. The side stiffener 61 is similar. in overall shape to-stilfener 38 but has a number of lugs 62-.which are punched out of the side wall 612: and bent over parallel to the front flange 61b. A rectangular tab 63 is punched out of each lugandotfset slightly toward flange 61b. These tabs face toward wall 61a.

Lugs 62 and flange 61b form between them a recess 64 in which the side margin of panel 20 is received. The panel and stiffenerv are assembled -by pushing the side of the panel'into grooves 64 with tabs 63 in register with tabs 60. The tabs have enough spring to snap past one another, and the ends of the'tabsengage, when the parts are completely assembled, as shown in Fig. 12 to lock the stiffener on to the panel. The stiffener has lugs 65 and 66, corresponding to lugs 39 and 40 in Fig. 7, which overlap on successive panels and reinforce the hinge connection when the rollers; are inserted.

Theassembly of the doorrequiresno particular skill or special tools, and the door may-be hungby the garage owner himself, if he desires to keepthe-cost to a minimum. Another advantage arising from the fact that the door can be readily assembled on the job, is. that the parts for a door installation can be shipped and stored in a compact package of the length andiwidth of a single panel, thus effectinga considerable saving in the floor space required by the manufacturers 'for storage, and in shippingtcharges, as well asbeing more convenient to handle than-an assembled door.

All thepanels, except for the top and bottom panel, are-interchangeable, so that the'owner can vary the position'of a panel provided with windows or locks,tfor example; to suit his'needs; A damaged panel canbe easily replaced-without taking down the door. 1

All the panels; are basically formed from a single rolled shape so that the same forming tools can be used for doors of all sizes. The manufacturer need not keep a number of doors of different sizes in stock, as the basic rolled lengths'can be readily cut to size and the end stiifeners applied on receipt of an order. Any appropriate number of panels can beassembled together to accommodate door openings of various heights.

The continuous interlock of tubular portions22c and 2.3b along the edges of the panels eliminates the expense of making and installing separate hinges and roller flange seats firmly on portion 23a of the panel below, when the door is closed, thus further stifiening the door in closed position. The upward slope of these portions prevents the entry of snow and rain. If desired, however, a triangular strip of rubber 51 (see Fig. 4)' can be attached all along the lower part of portion 23a of each panel for a weather seal. Portion 22a of the panel above will then seat on this strip when the door is closed, portion 22a being substantially. at right angles to portions 22b and 23a. The front face of strip 51 is aligned with the front faces of the panels so as to provide a flush surface when the door is closed.

The upward and rearward slope of portions 22b and 23a of the panels also serves another purpose. When the door is closed, the weight of each panel causes it to tend to slide forward on the panel below. The panels will thus tend to rest tightly against the jamb, and it is unnecessary to taper the track to provide a tighter fit for the rollers at the bottom, as in the conventional door. 'This makes the door easy to open. When the door is lifted, for example, by handles on one of the upper panels, the panels will tend to slide back on each other, minimizing friction against the jamb.

What is claimed is:

1. A sectional door of the type intended to roll along tracks from an upright closed position to an overhead open position, comprising a number of panels, disposed one above the other, each panel having a generally rectangular body portion with upper and lower edges and side edges, a continuous top flange disposed along the upper edge, a continuous bottom flange disposed along the bottom edge, and a pair of stiflening members, one disposed along and connected to each side edge, the flanges having tubular segment portions and the tubular segment portion of the top flange of one panel interfitting with the tubular segment portion of the bottom flange of the panel above, each of said stifieners having an upper lug and a lower lug, the upper lugs of the stiffeners on one panel overlapping the lower lugs of the stiffeners on the panel above and each overlapping pair of lugs having registering openings disposed alongside the interfitting tubular segment portions, and a number of roller assemblies, each having a supporting member passing through the openings of one of the overlapping pairs of lugs and being frictionally secured in the adjacent interfitting tubular segment portions.

2. A sectional door comprising a number of panels, including a pair of panels disposed one above the other, the upper of said pair having a continuous lower flange provided with a tubular segment portion, and the lower of said pair having a continuous upper flange provided with a tubular segment portion, said tubular segment portions being disposed one within the other to form a continuous interfitting hinge, and at least one strap member connected to one of said pair of panels, said strap member having a first curved portion disposed around said tubular portions and a second reentrantly curved portion disposed within the inner of said tubular portions.

3. A sectional door as described in claim 2, the panel to which said strap is connected having an attached stiffening member on which said strap is mounted.

4. In a sectional door, of the type adapted to be moved from an upright closed position to an open position and composed of a number of interchangeable similar panels formed of sheet material; a first panel having a generally rectangular body portion with top, bottom and side edges and a front face, a top flange disposed along said top edge, and a bottom flange disposed along said bottom edge, each of said flanges running substantially the full width of the panel and having a rearwardly extending flat portion and a generally tubular portion, and a pair of stiffening members, one disposed along each of said side edges and extending rearwardly, said stiffening members running substantially the full height of said body portion; a second panel disposed below the first panel and having a body portion, flanges, and stiffening members of the same construction and arrangement as those of the first panel, the generally tubular portion of the top flange of, the second panel being engaged with the generally tubular portion of the bottom flange of the first panel to form a continuous hinge, and the flat portions of said flanges converging to form a groove between the body portions of the two panels, each of said stiflening members having an upper portion projecting across an end of the adjacent top flange tubular portion and a lower portion projecting across an end of the adjacent bottom flange tubular portion, the upper portions of the stifiening members of the second panel overlapping the lower portions of the stiffening members of the first panel; and a pair of roller assemblies, each including a supporting member frictionally received in one end of said engaged tubular portions, the overlapping stiffening member portions having registering circular openings substantially coaxial with said engaged tubular portions, the respective supporting members passing through said openings.

5. A sectional door comprising a number of panels including a pair of panels disposed one above the other, and each having a substantially flat, rectangular body portion with a side edge, the upper of said pair having a continuous lower flange provided with a tubular segment portion, and the lower of said pair having a continuous upper flange provided with a tubular segment portion, said tubular segment portions being disposed one within the other to form a continuous interlocking hinge, each of said body portions having tabs offset from the plane thereof adjacent said side edge, and a stiffener member along its side edge with a front flange disposed parallel to the body portion and tabs engaged with the tabs of the panel to connect the stiffener to the panel, the stifiener connected to the upper panel having a lower lug, and the stiffener connected to the lower panel having an upper lug overlapping said lower lug, said lugs having openings aligned with said tubular segment portion, and a roller assembly having a supporting member passing through said openings and frictionally engaged in said tubular segment portions.

6. A panel assembly for a sectional door of the type intended to move between an upright closed position and an overhead open position, comprising, in combination, a pair of panels having substantially flat rectangular body portions with top, bottom and opposite side edges, 21 lower flange extending along the bottom edge of one of said panels and defining a continuous tubular segment, an upper flange extending along the top edge of the other of said panels and defining a continuous tubular segment, said tubular segments being disposed one within the other, each of said panels having a side stiffener disposed along each of the panels side edges, said side stifteners on one panel overlapping the side stifieners on the other panel adjacent the ends of said tubular segments, said side stiffeners having registering openings in their overlapping portions disposed in alinement with the ends of said tubular segments, and a pair of roller assemblies each having a supporting member, said assemblies being mounted at opposite sides of said panels by having their supporting members fitted through said side stilfener openings and into the opposite ends of said tubular segments.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 498,477 Lugrin May 30, 1893 830,456 Schultes Sept. 4, 1906 951,867 Wilson Mar. 15, 1910 1,054,977 McCloud Mar. 4, 1913 1,367,240 Cornell Feb. 1, 1921 1,408,076 Claveria Feb. 28, 1922 1,729,825 Gaiser Oct. 1, 1929 1,888,162 Ekland Nov. 15, 1932 (Other references on following page) 7 UNITED STATES PATENTS Guss Nov. 21, 1933 Rush May 19, 1936 Daniell Mar. 2, 1937 Pixley Aug. 17, 1937 Laufensweiler Dec. 12, 1939 Pilcher Sept. 30, 1941 Siess Oct. 27, 1942 Rowe Dec. 25, 1945 8 Norbcrg Oct. 10, 1950 Mitchell June 19, 1951 Schlytern Sept. 4, 1951 Blodgett Nov. 13, 1951 Poggi Feb. 19, 1952 Buehler 'Sept. 3, 1957 FOREIGN PATENTS Great Britain Mar. 3, 1949 

